The FALDP Docket

Special Edition
January 2016

Members and Friends

This is a special edition of our monthly newsletter. There were too many things we couldn't wait until mid-month to share. Our regular edition will be sent around the 15th or 16th.

Announcements

Welcome 2016!

Doing Good Great

I welcome the New Year and am honored and humbled that you read my words. The entire year is before us to do with what we will, stretched before us like a red carpet. The Florida Association of Legal Document Preparers is nothing without our members, supporters, and friends. We make a difference everyday. I never publish consumer testimonials but I cherish the kind words, gratitude, and success stories that people send my way.

I have had consumers thank me for giving them hope, just as our mission statement promises. Consumers often say they could not have accomplished their legal goal without the help of a document preparer. And others have told me that their life changed for the better because of the assistance received from us.

Hope ~ Empowerment ~ Positive Change

I attended the Florida Prosperity Partnership's Town Hall Meeting in October. The Reverend Scott George was there, and he spoke about his
recent book and the concept of "Doing Good Great". We all want to do good things, to help rather than hurt. But can we do more? Can we do great? I believe each of us can, and all of us together are unstoppable.

The Reverend spoke about the story of the Good Samaritan, saying he should really be called the Great Samaritan. The Bible story goes:

A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.
The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

Not only did the Good Samaritan stop and give assistance to the traveler - he went further. He then took the traveler to an inn to recover. The inn keeper was likely far better equipped to assist in the traveler's recovery. And then the Good Samaritan followed up and made sure that the traveler successfully recovered.

The Samaritan had already done a good thing when he stopped to give aid. The road between Jerusalem and Jericho was a treacherous route, and he put his own safety second when he stopped. Then to go further and take the traveler to the inn, and promise to pay and promise to follow up - he turned his good act into a great action.

My second grade teacher called it, going "that one step further". Doing more than is required,
every chance we get, is what turns good into great.We can all be great, and even greater together.

Plans for 2016

We have an exciting year ahead of us, let's make it a great year. Here are some of our plans:

Throughout January - Our annual membership drive has begun. Document preparers can join for half price - $37.50. If you are a member and know someone who has not yet joined, both of you can benefit. Refer three members and your next membership fee is waived. New members, enjoy the discount. Our membership hovers around 100, we can do better. Please help our membership grow. There is strength in numbers.

January 16 - webinar - Unauthorized Practice of Law - how to avoid the perils, pitfalls, and persecution. Invitations are set to go out by January 8.

FALDP Certification - Basic Skills & Knowledge Exam should be ready on February 1. Focus Area Exams will open during February and March. Certification is not mandatory. If you choose to certify, your certification logo will be issued upon renewal.

FALDP Document Prep Portal - We are working on a Document Preparation Portal for family law documents. We are in the process of building it and beta testing as we go. So far we've completed the form sets for Dissolution of Marriage with No Children/ No Property; and Petition to Determine Paternity and Related Relief. We'll open it up for member subscriptions once we have completed all the form sets for divorce; and modification of child custody and modification of child support. The document portal allows the user to enter information into a questionnaire and then the information populates to the fields on the forms in that set.

Department of Vocational Rehab - FALDP is a vendor through the State of Florida's Department of Vocational Rehab for people with disabilities who qualify for assistance in obtaining employment or supported self-employment. We offer supported self-employment by offering education, marketing, and membership. New
site pages are in the works to fully explain the program.

The Local Forms page within the Members Only area on our site is live. So far it only has a few of the local forms and we are working hard to upload more. These are for member's convenience - we work hard to make your job easier.

New Family Law Forms

The Florida Supreme Court family law forms were updated in November. In fact, 58 of the family law forms for pro se litigants changed. The forms on our site have been updated to reflect the changes. Forms are within our courses and form packets to purchase. Or, of course, go directly to the source to download.

Here is a list of forms that recently changed;

Answers - 12.903 (a-e)

Petition for Support Unconnected with Dissolution 12.904(a,b)

Supplemental Petitions for Modifications 12.904(a-d)

Process Server Memo 12.919(b)

Affidavit of Military Service 12.912(b)

Notice of Action 12.913(a)(1) and (a)(2)

Certificate of Service 12.914

Notice of Current Address 12.915

Notice of Hearing (CSE) 12.921

Order/ Motion for Default 12.922(a-c)

Notice of Hearing 12.923

Notice for Trial 12.924

Notice of Voluntary Dismissal 12.927

Subpoena for
Production 12.931(b)

Motion to Dissolve Temporary Injunction DV 12.940(d)

Verified Motion to Prevent Removal of Minor Child(ren) 12.941(a)

Motion for Child Pick-Up 12.941(d)

Motion for Guardian Ad Litem 12.942(a)

Motion to Deviate from Child Support Guidelines (12.943

Motion for Attendance/ Testimony of Minor 12.944

Motion for Temporary Support 12.947(a)

Temporary Order of Support 12.947(c)

Involving Relocation 12.950 (a-g)

Petition to Disestablish Paternity 12.951(a)

Motion for Contempt/ Enforcement 12.960

Notice on Motion for Contempt 12.961

Petitions for Temporary/ Concurrent Custody 12.970(a-b)

Petition for Injunction for Domestic Violence 12.980(a)

Petition for Dissolution with Child(ren) 12.901(b)(1)

Petition for Dissolution with Property/ No Children 12.901(b)(2)

Petition for Dissolution No Property/ No Children
12.901(b)(3)

UCCJEA Affidavit 12.902(d)

MSA with Property/ No Children 12.902(f)(2)

MSA with Children 12.902(f)(1)

Affidavit of Corroborating Witness 12.902(1)

Notice of Social 12.902(j)

Petition for Injunction for Repeat Violence 12.980(f)

Petition for Injunction for Sexual Violence 12.980(q)

We have not had the opportunity to compare the old with the new side by side. There is new language on the instructions for the forms addressing e-filing for pro se litigants. (Confusing language in my opinion).

Course Updates

We have updated all of the courses to improve the layout and navigation. We updated the following courses to reflect family law form changes:

We have updated the Notary Signing Agent Prep Course with updated information throughout. And we have updated the Debt Defense Document Prep Course with additional information.

Our course policy allows you to access the course at any time after you have paid for the course.

Member's Announcements & Contributions

Have something to share?

We accept member's announcements and appreciate your contributions. If you have an announcement about your business, an expansion of services, moving your offices, or winning awards, please send us the information and we'll include it in our newsletter. Your announcement needs to be pertinent to your business, we are unable to include announcements about other trade associations, clubs or groups.

If you would like to write an article, editorial, opinion piece, or web page please let us know. We are always in need of fresh information and insights.

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FALDP Contact Information:
Main number – (941)237-0951
Toll free - (800)515-0496
Email – staff@faldp.org